Raiders sign Perry Riley

The Raiders made several veteran additions to their defense during free agency and they’ve added another one ahead of this Sunday’s home date with the Chargers.

According to multiple reports, the team has added linebacker Perry Riley to the 53-man roster. Riley has been a free agent since the Redskins released him at the end of August.

Riley was a fourth-round pick by the Redskins in 2010 and played 79 games for them over the last six seasons. He started all 55 games over the last four seasons, but got passed on the depth chart upon his return from last year’s season-ending foot injury.

There’s no word on a corresponding move, although inside linebacker Ben Heeney is expected to go on injured reserve and Riley would slide into his spot on the defense without much of a fuss.

Riley is a very serviceable LB and can cover and bring the wood. I can see him and Corey James in a LB set on coverage situations i.e. covering RB’s and TE’s. I think JDR is running the defense now IMO.

Heeney was terrible, and I think he was the #1 guy responsible for giving up 500 yards the first two games this season. He was slow hitting his gaps, hit the wrong gaps, got blocked easily, sucked in coverage… the opponents just ran easily up the middle and passed over the middle.
Reggie/Jack should have seen this guy as a weakness in the offseason and upgraded the position.

Daren Bates didn’t do too bad either. I would give him more snaps on defense against the Bolts. Whether he’s on special teams or not, he is still a linebacker and he played with Auburn. Hopefully Riley will get some help from David Amerson about the system the Raiders are running.